Susan Stoudt

TRAVERSE CITY — A gentle, loving light passed into God's hands Friday, leaving a legacy of loving children, grandchildren, close family, and many dear friends.Susan Laurin Stoudt was born in Muskegon Dec. 5, 1946, where early on she exhibited a love of nature, beautiful surroundings, and books. The daughter of Adrian and Mary (Semelbauer) Laurin, Susan attended Muskegon Catholic Central High School. It was there at the school's Valentine's Day dance that she met her future husband, Dan. They married in 1967, and were never far from each other's side for the next 44 happy years to come.After graduating from Ferris State University and beginning a family that included son, Dan, and daughter, Sheila, the Stoudts moved to Traverse City. Here Dan began his banking career and Susan settled in to making a wonderful life for her family.Susan's passion for the outdoors and for elegant surroundings occupied her recent years. She loved interior decorating and was often found reinventing her residences in Traverse City and Jensen Beach, Fla. Both her gardens and her interiors reflected who Susan was: Serene, thoughtful, and inspiring.Always compassionate, always secure in her faith, Susan never failed to put others' needs before her own. Above all, she loved being with family and her friends, but most especially she loved spending time with her five grandchildren.Although a very serious and painful form of cancer claimed her body, her soul is with our eternal Father in Heaven, where she joins her parents and an older brother, Corbin, who died in infancy.Susan leaves her husband, Dan; her children, Dan (Heidi), and Sheila (Ian) Bryant; her sister, Kathleen Laurin, of Greensburg, Pa.; and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews. She will always be "Honey" to her grandchildren, Ethan, Haley, Maggie, Reagan and Sydney.Visitation will take place Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 3 to 7 p.m. at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. There will be a scripture reading at 4 p.m.A Catholic memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at St. Francis Catholic Church, with Rev. Kenneth Stachnik officiating.In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial gifts be directed to Munson Hospice House or Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools.Please sign Susan's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.

Susan Stoudt

December 5, 1946